Martin O'Neill admits the international break has dealt Sunderland a tough hand after confirmation that top scorer Steven Fletcher will miss the remainder of the campaign.

Martin O'Neill has dismissed the suggestion that Manchester United will be less formidable opponents this weekend because they'll have one eye on their FA Cup quarter-final replay against Chelsea on Monday night.

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST

Swansea City are weighing up a summer bid for Sevilla defender Alberto Botia.

Jazz Richards is ready to scrap for a first-team place after signing a new contract at Swansea City.

BIRMINGHAM MAIL

Birmingham's Will Packwood says he is on the mend after his leg-break hell.

Matt Lowton's hopes of joining Aston Villa's elite list of ever-present Premier League stars is hanging in the balance.

EXPRESS & STAR

Wolves have been knocked back in their deadline-day loan bid for Burnley striker Martin Paterson.

West Bromwich Albion favourite Claudio Yacob has been tipped as a future Baggies captain.

Gabby Agbonlahor has vowed to put Aston Villa's plight before personal pride and insisted he will ignore the goal critics.

YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

Neil Warnock believes Leeds United will have more "outstanding options" to replace him as manager at the end of the season than they do at present after Nigel Adkins was crossed off the club's list of candidates.

THE PINK UN

Canaries signing Ricky van Wolfswinkel has been defending his decision to move to Norfolk in the summer - and revealed one or two of manager Chris Hughton's other transfer plans.

THE DAILY ECHO

Southampton have been linked with a £10million summer move for Cagliari and Italy centre-back Davide Astori.

THE SENTINEL

Asmir Begovic has assured fans he is not beginning to feel stale and restless at Stoke City as speculation rumbles on over his future.

WIGAN EVENING POST

Mike Pollitt admits a season on loan at Northampton has done young goalkeeper Lee Nicholls "the world of good".

THE BOLTON NEWS

Bolton's Stuart Holden is poised to join Sheffield Wednesday on a short-term loan.

Phil Gartside expects Kevin Davies to rejoin the push for promotion if he does not sort a loan deal away from the Reebok by the end of today.

Kevin Davies will get the celebration game he wants to mark almost a decade of service to Wanderers.

LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH

Owen Coyle is not in the running for the vacancy at Blackburn Rovers despite odds tumbling on the former Burnley boss.

Leroy Lita says Sheffield Wednesday are ready for the fight to stay in the 'toughest league in the world'.

EVENING TIMES

As Rangers have stumbled towards the Irn-Bru Third Division title in the last few weeks, manager Ally McCoist has appealed for time to strengthen his threadbare squad.

Andy Little has admitted the Rangers players have deserved to be criticised in recent weeks as their form has nosedived.

THE SCOTSMAN

Gavin Masterton has issued a personal apology for his part in Dunfermline Athletic's financial meltdown after the club were granted interim administration at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

ood grief. Someone guessed that the form English player at the moment might be in his national side with some other players? And that's espionage? Now if they discovered that Emile Heskey was going to be in the starting line up.... at right back.... THAT would be espionage. Give it a rest Roy.